Bury dad’s coastal cycle ride to fund Williams Syndrome research

Neil Maxwell has chosen today, Williams Syndrome Day, to announce his fund raising cycle ride round the coast of East Anglia.

Neil’s and Zoe Maxwell’s three-year-old son Seth has the rare condition, which affects only one in 25,000, so he wants to raise cash to support the Williams Syndrome Foundation’s work on it.

Neil, 40, of Chalk Road, Bury St Edmunds, said: “It affects his development, physically and mentally.

“He’s small for his age and it holds up his reaching milestones like walking and talking.

“There are also health issues with their hearts and kidneys. They have hyper elasticity that affects their joints and the heart valves.

“But he is a happy little three-year-old and another bonus is that they have an affinity with music. He hears harmonies we barely notice.”

A keen cyclist, he plans on June 11 to 14 to cycle from Southend Pier to Heacham, along the coast, then back to Bury. He is doing it mostly alone, but anyone who wants to cycle part of the route with him can call him on 07920 140599.

You can sponsor him at www.justgiving.com/neilswheels

In addition two friends Maggie Whitefoot and Simon Last are doing a parachute jump on May 23 for the same cause. They can be sponsored at www.justgiving.com/Maggie-Simon

The Williams Syndrome Foundation was founded in 1980 and is run by families to support families, as well as to fund research projects. Visit www.williams-syndrome.org.uk